The world's grasslands are being
destabilized by fertilization, according to a paper recently published in the
journal Nature. In a study of 41 grassland communities on five
continents, researchers found that the presence of fertilizer weakened
grassland species diversity.

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The researchers surveyed grasslands in
countries around the world, such as China, the U.S., Switzerland, Tanzania and
Germany, and discovered that grassland communities that had not been managed by
humans contained more species. They also had greater species asynchrony, which
means that different species thrive at different times so that the grassland
produces more consistently over time, resulting in more stable biomass
production.

Grasslands, such as this one in the
U.S. state of Nebraska, are found on all continents except for Antarctica. They
have significant underground biomass and carbon-storing abilities, are also
home to multitudes of unique species, and provide valuable ecosystem services.

However, the researchers found exposure
to fertilizer reduced species asynchrony, leading to less production over time.

Lead researcher Yann Hautier said
grasslands are of global importance due to the many ecosystem services they
provide.

"Not only are grasslands very
beautiful, the also supply food for domestic livestock, maintain nutrient
cycling, store carbon and water, purify soil and water, regulate the weather
and climate, protect against disasters such as landslides and provide pollination," he said.